PACTS has submitted written evidence to the Select Committee Inquiry into ‘Improving Air Quality’

The Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Environmental Audit Committee, Health, and Transport Parliamentary Select Committees, are conducting an inquiry into how effective the Government’s plans are at tackling the health and environmental impacts of outdoor air pollution.

In November, PACTS submitted written evidence that focuses on the interplay between the Government’s air quality policies and road safety.

As part of the submission, PACTS drew attention to the following points:

1. There is considerable uncertainty over the scale of premature deaths associated with emissions;2. There is confusion over the definition of deaths associated with emissions. Perhaps as a result,misleading comparisons with deaths from other causes are sometimes made;3. The Government’s 2017 Air Quality Plan makes no mention of road safety considerations yetoffers funding for measures that could increase road casualties;4. Road safety considerations seem to be largely absent from associated government initiatives,including the Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV);5. The Government should adopt the twin objectives of zero vehicle emissions and zero fatal orserious road casualties;6. The revisions to EU vehicle safety standards currently underway offer opportunities to achievesafety and air quality benefits, and7. Research is needed into the effects on emissions and safety of different types of traffic calmingand speed reduction measures.

PACTS:

About us:

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is a registered charity. It supports the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety.

Its charitable objective is "To protect human life through the promotion of transport safety for the public benefit". Its aim is to advise and inform members of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords on air, rail and road safety issues.

Supporters of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and the Sustainable Development Goals: